IN A NEW ROLE AT MORRISSEY’S, BAR MANAGER SHA BHATTI CRAFTS A KYOTO ALIBI
In a new bar manager role at Morrissey’s Lounge at The Adelphi in Saratoga Springs, Sha Bhatti, former bar director of Golden Monkey Lounge in Glens Falls, shares his inspiration for a Kyoto Alibi.
Story: Susie Davidson Powell
Photos: Provided
Location: Morrissey’s Lounge at The Adelphi, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The cocktail: Kyoto Alibi
Ingredients: Japanese whisky, charred orange blossom syrup, angostura and orange bitters, smoke
The inspiration/backstory: “The inspiration for the Kyoto Alibi is quite simple: I wanted to create an Old Fashioned that could be enjoyed all year round. A cocktail that had depth of flavor and bright citrus notes with a smooth silky finish. I also wanted to create something special to pair with our amazing sushi program at The Adelphi Hotel.”
The build: “It starts with a good quality, hundred proof Japanese whisky that we fat-wash with brown butter, giving the whisky a silky texture and nutty depth of flavor similar to ghee butter. To that we add a small amount of charred orange blossom syrup and a few dashes of angostura and orange bitters. This really brings out the citrus notes in in the whiskey and gives the cocktail its balance and structure. All these ingredients are mixed in a mixing glass while the rocks glass is smoked with a cedar plank. The smoke kisses the inside of the glass as we pour the finished cocktail over a tempered king cube and garnishes with a charred orange slice for both aesthetics and to add even more of that charred citrus element.” - SB